Boo at the Zoo & other Hallowe'en Happenings

This fall, I'd scored a super great Groupon (coupon) deal for 50% off an annual zoo membership.  We'd been given money by Iz's grandparents last Christmas to purchase one and I'd never gotten around to it, so this was the perfect time. :)   It was a steal without the inclusion of five free admissions to Boo at the Zoo (which would have cost us $50 to attend).  Sometimes it pays to be a procrastinator . . . though most of the times, it doesn't.

We picked up S at his workplace one night, bundled up and went to the scarily decorated zoo.  Sassy A wanted to go into the areas recommended for 13 years and older, where people jump out and grab you, so S took her on those detours.  She isn't one to be easily scared, but the younger two cast wary glances at some of the decorations and costumed people along the pathway.  It was good we came early before it got too dark and really freaky for them.

The younger two perked up once we got to the Midway at the end.  We only did 3 rides, as line-ups at -3 C don't feel too great.  The kids had a super fun time, so we were happy for the cheap excursion.

Hallowe'en itself was overshadowed by Grandma & Grandpa's arrival in the evening - and the fact that Ai came down with a cold . . . again.  He had to stay home and miss his classroom party, though he and Iz had fun playing in the dress-up box.  Not one who's super fond of dressing up, he decided on the fireman's hat and a soccer medal, and that was it.  There was no persuading otherwise (without a tantrum), so we kept it simple this year.

Iz loved the puppy costume and insisted on wearing it grocery shopping, barking at every person we passed for an hour.  Good thing she's cute!

As for A, she wanted to be a good witch for her classroom party, though she doesn't quite look like Glenda from the Wizard of Oz.

Thanks to a friend having make-up at school, she returned home looking more like the Wicked Witch of the West, without the hat, green face and nasty nose.  Yikes.  Purple eye shadow just isn't her thing (and I didn't realize that she was coming down with a fever and sickness, too, until the next morning) . . . 

Since we had to be at the airport at 7:00, we quickly made the rounds of our block with our friends and their cute son (who I didn't manage to get pictures of as he moved around too much).  Was short and sweet, though I discovered that ours is a really hurting street to go trick-or-treating on.  Hardly any one hands out candy, but it really didn't matter to the kids.

They were pretty pooped out as we waited at the airport . . . 

But the arrival of two sweeter treats perked them up . . . .

. . . and helped end an already great day for the kids.  The trick was that we all ended up getting sick over the next days, without having Hallowe'en sugar as a causal factor!  Sigh.  At least one's own parents are the best company to have that happen around . . . if it has to happen!